The African Union has officially congratulated Mahmoud Ali Youssouf following his election as the organisation’s next chairperson, expressing hopes for his upcoming four-year term.
The 59-year-old Djiboutian diplomat secured victory after six rounds of voting at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, eventually garnering 33 votes to defeat Kenya’s Raila Odinga.
In a statement, the AU said it looked forward to Mr Youssouf’s leadership in advancing the continent’s Agenda 2063 development blueprint.
“Congratulates H.E Mahamoud Ali Youssouf -Djibouti on his election as the incoming African Union Chairperson, ” the AU said, highlighting its vision of “building the Africa we want”.
“May his term bring progress, unity & sustainability, advancing #Agenda2063, as we build #TheAfricaWeWant,
Mr Youssouf, who previously served as Djibouti’s foreign minister for over a decade, will take over from outgoing chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad.
His victory was secured with significant backing from Islamic and Francophone African states, with his multilingual capabilities in French, Arabic and English seen as a decisive factor in winning support across the continent’s diverse regions.
The election, which went through multiple rounds of voting, highlighted the complex regional dynamics within the 55-member bloc. as the East African Community threw their weight behind Mr. Odinga.
Initially leading in the first two rounds, Mr. Odinga lost his advantage in the third round when Mr. Youssouf secured 23 votes to his 20, while Madagascar’s Randriamandrato was eliminated with just five votes. Mr. Youssouf then consolidated his position in the fourth round with 25 votes to Mr. Odinga’s 21. The fifth round saw Mr Youssouf gain 26 votes against Mr Odinga’s 22, leading to the Kenyan’s elimination. In the final round, Mr. Youssouf clinched the chairmanship with 33 votes.
Mr Youssouf has promised to “build a stronger, united, and prosperous continent.”.
Speaking after taking his oath of office, Mr. Youssouf emphasised the weight of his new role: “I have taken an oath to serve Africa honestly and with dignity for the next 4 years. A highly demanding mission.”
The new chair will be tasked with steering the AU’s ambitious development agenda while addressing ongoing continental challenges, including conflict resolution and economic integration.
The Agenda 2063 the AU is advancing is a flagship initiative aimed at transforming Africa into a global powerhouse over the next four decades.
